A Philadelphia man who survived a police-involved shooting in Buckingham Township Saturday afternoon was charged and arraigned via his hospital bed Tuesday for allegedly terrorizing residents prior to the shooting.
William Francis Campbell, 50, was charged with two felony counts of burglary, felony aggravated assault and felony criminal trespassing, as well as four misdemeanor counts each of terroristic threats with intent to terrorize another, simple assault, and harassment, five misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person, two misdemeanor counts of possessing an instrument of crime, and misdemeanor criminal mischief, according to court documents.
Bail was set at 10% of $250,000 cash by Magisterial District Judge Maggie Snow. He also faces summar charges of speeding, careless driving, and driving an unregistered vehicle, per court records.
His bail conditions included no contact with the victims, a mental health evaluation and for him to only take prescribed medication as directed, police said.
This case is being investigated by Bucks County detectives, as is protocol with all officer-involved shootings in the county. District Attorney Jennifer Schorn will review their findings and issue a determination upon the investigation's conclusion, authorities said.
The incident began at 3:36 p.m. Saturday when Bucks County Emergency Communications received a report of a single-vehicle crash on the 4800 block of Redfield Road and the van driver running around the area threatening citizens with a metal chain, police said.
Callers said the man was “going crazy” and “screaming that he's an angel,” according to a criminal complaint.
A Buckingham Township police officer arrived at the scene of the crash minutes later. The officer approached the vehicles involved in the crash and discovered Campbell sitting in the passenger seat of a crashed GMC Savana van, police said.
The officer stopped and then walked back in the direction of his patrol vehicle. Campbell exited the van and walked toward the officer, authorities allege.
As Campbell advanced, the officer noted that he had a large metal chain with a pointed end piece draped over his shoulders and a box cutter in his right hand, police said. As he walked toward the officer, Campbell's pants fell and he sat down to remove them, continuing to yell at the officer and a resident of Redfield Road who was outside, police said.
Campbell stood up after removing his pants and continued to yell at the officer and the resident, police said. The officer had his Taser drawn and when Campbell turned to walk back, he fired, but the Taser had no effect after Campbell pulled the probe out, police allege.
Campbell then allegedly approached the retreating officer while raising the box cutter and the officer fired three shots, striking Campbell, police said. Campbell suffered two gunshot wounds to his torso, police said.
Officers immediately began rendering aid on Campbell, who continued to yell at officers during this time, police said. Campbell was transported by helicopter to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center for treatment.
By James Short At the scene, police recovered the box cutter and a large chain with a pointed end piece, police said.
Inside Campbell’s discarded pants, police said they found controlled substances.
During their investigation, Bucks County detectives spoke to residents of Redfield Road and Mead Drive and examined video evidence, obtained from home surveillance, law enforcement mobile recorders and cellphones.
The investigation found that Campbell was allegedly speeding in his van on Redfield, leaving visible marks in the roadway as it rounded the curve that connected Mead Drive to Redfield Road, police said.
He then crossed into oncoming traffic and jumped a curb on the 4800 block of Redfield Road, striking an unoccupied pickup truck with an attached cargo trailer, police said. The impact forced the truck off the driveway and into a tree.
Both vehicles sustained disabling damage and were inoperable. The truck and trailer belonged to two contractors who were working on a home on Redfield Road, police said.
After the crash, the workers both heard Campbell yelling that he was the “Angel of Death.” They also said he grabbed a metal chain from his van and began swinging it around, police allege.
The contractors said that Campbell also had a blade in his hand, which they described as a drywall or spackling tool, authorities said. The contractors retreated inside the home with other residents until police arrived.
Others in the neighborhood reported seeing Campbell allegedly swinging the large metal chain in his hand and yelling at them and screaming religious and political statements toward any resident who was outside, police said.
One resident told police he went outside after hearing the crash to see if anyone needed help. Upon leaving his home, the resident observed Campbell screaming, holding something in his hand, and walking toward his home, police said. The resident retreated into his open garage and Campbell allegedly followed him.
Another resident yelled at Campbell to leave, but he refused, police said. The residents entered their home through the interior garage door, shutting it on Campbell.
Campbell left the garage and shortly after, he allegedly got into the violent confrontation with the Buckingham police officer.
The residents inside reported hearing the interaction with the officer and Campbell disregarding the officer’s commands for him to stop, police said.
This case is being investigated by Detectives with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Megan Hunsicker.
No attorney information is available for Campbell.
Campbell pleaded guilty in 2012 to misdemeanor terroristic threats in Philadelphia and was sentenced to six months in jail, per court records. He was also found guilty of numerous offenses, including theft, in 1996.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
